The Wolf's Song

A Tricky Question

Michael

Returning home didn’t have the same effect as usual, not only because of my meeting with Damien but because I also liked coming home to her. She made my house a home. I used to hate that phrase because I never understood it, but I got it then.

I found myself looking around it and seeing what needed to go to make room for what she liked. My living room was devoid of color, and it had never bothered me before, now I thought it needed some paintings, perhaps a portrait of us hanging over the fireplace. The longer she was around the more these thoughts came to me. I shouldn’t be thinking this way, especially not after that meeting. It may not be official, but I could feel a war brewing. Our history had been long, and even after everything we had been through, I had tried to prevent a war, but he was tying my hands. His threatening of not only Bamberg but of Diana will not go unmarked. I would give my life for hers, but I’d rather spend it with her, so that meant, if need be, it would be Damien who had to be removed.

Though I already said I would see her later today, I was impatient. The advice of my pack ran through my mind, joining up with the meeting and the events as of late. Everything was pointed to telling her the truth, letting her in on the secret, but fear was stopping me. Of losing her, yes, but of everything changing.

Even if she did accept me for me, would I be able to surprise her as I could now? I loved knowing where she was at all times, her scent as easy to find as breathing. If she knew I was using my wolf senses, would she call me a stalker anymore, or her cat, which was really an insult, but from her lips, it was cute.

My sleep was restless, wondering how her day went, what were her plans for the morning, did she miss me. Things that normally fit a more modern man, not an Alpha shifter like myself. But perhaps that was what made me love her more, she made me feel normal and I hadn’t felt that in a long time.

Occupying my mind the next morning was a challenge. I worked out, made a protein shake, and read a page of a book before tossing it to the sofa, it seemed my restlessness followed me.

Then a thought came to me. With war pending, Diana seemingly at the center of what was going on in Bamberg, and my indecision of telling her my secret, I wanted to give her something before I shattered her world again. Knowing she was hunted had to weigh on her, and I knew surviving another attack wasn’t easy to swallow either, just like she did for me, she needed a reminder of what it felt like to be a normal couple, and normal couples go on dates.

She had slept in my bed, I had carried her many times, and cooked for her, and yet I hadn’t once been able to pamper her. I grabbed my laptop and started looking at five-star restaurants only in the area. In my search, I found the perfect restaurant, and it was not far from a place I knew she’d love.

I ordered flowers and gifts and I nearly made a reservation when I realized I hadn’t even asked her yet. I was sure of her answer, but I couldn’t assume Diana. Unlike my pack, she wasn’t wired to follow me.

I grabbed my phone and video-called her. She flashed across the screen after a few rings.

“Hey…,” I started, but on her end, the camera shook, a loud “ooff” sounded and Martha’s voice was loud and clear, though I was blinded with the camera blocked.

“Diana, be careful, watch that pile, those papers are three times your age,” she yelled. Diana replied and though she was fluent in it, her accent was still cute. Finally, stairs came into view, then a door, and finally full light flashed across the screen, but I was looking at the floor. Somehow, during whatever happened she managed to flip the camera and I nearly died when she started talking as if I could see her.

“Sorry about that. She has been in her basement all morning looking for something. It’s been crazy. What about you? Are you still coming this afternoon? Maybe we should make it late afternoon,” she said, as I still faced the floor.

“Diana,” I called her name.

“Yeah? Can you not hear me? Oh geez,” she giggled and then flipped the camera around. It had only been a day, but my heart swelled at the sight of her. She laughed, and it's music to my ears.

“It’s very messy down there,” she explained as a way to express why she was so disoriented.

“What is Martha looking for?” I asked, my curiosity sparked.

“Her? I have no idea, but something happened that has me questioning everything again,” she said.

She positioned the phone on something, and I watched as she went to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She wasn’t lying about it being messy, because she had dirt smudges along her cheeks and forehead. How could someone be so cute and yet so sexy at the same time? It was maddening.

“What?” I asked, trying to stay on topic. She wiped her mouth, adding more smudge to her pretty face, and sighed as she looked back at me. Even on the phone, she was pleading with me to believe whatever she was about to say. I worked my shoulders, giving off my serious, listening vibe.

“Martha thinks,” she paused. She ran her fingers through her hair and finally made up her mind, to be honest. “She thinks maybe my playing did something to him. At first, I didn’t believe her, but maybe it was less my doing and more about the song choice,” she blurted out.

I wanted to say, I knew what she meant about her music, but first her explanation of the song, she might be onto something.

“What song was it?” I asked.

“Well, I wrote it. I’m only creative when it comes to music and for a school project we had to come up with a fictional story and I didn’t have the words. I created this piece about a man, who was probably me at the time, who was lost in the woods and was scared he’d never find his way home but after a while, he started to enjoy the woods and finally accepted that he was home. I got a D for it, but the following week I had an interview with an amazing after-school program for gifted kids. But that’s not important, the main thing is, the music mirrored the man right. I don’t know if one chooses to be a werewolf, but I doubt he enjoys killing as he does,” she finished and almost pouted as she went back deep in thought.

She clicked her tongue and caught my eye. “I think I did that,” she whispered. Whatever was going on in her head swung back and forth between guilt and fault. It probably wasn’t the best time, especially after what she just dumped on me, but if anyone needed a day of being normal, it was Diana.

“Listen, about tonight--,” I started. Her panic was instant.

“Please don’t cancel, I’m fine, really it was just a stupid idea,” she rushed out. I laughed and I saw her relax.

“I’m not going to cancel; in fact, I think we should have our first official date. I’ll make reservations, we’ll walk the streets arm in arm, and you will be Diana, a talented woman, who is playing doesn’t awaken werewolves and I will be Michael, a man not hiding you away from a revenge-hungry madman,” I teased. It seemed to work as Diana perked up.

“Actually, that sounds really nice,” her smile was coy, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

“Good. So, finish up with Martha, I’ll pick you up at seven,” I said.

She blew me a kiss, the sadness in her eyes replaced with anticipation. My screen went back, and I kicked my feet, feeling way too cocky for a guy who hadn’t had a proper date in over three decades.